Rivers slowly receding, flood recovery efforts ongoing
Ljubljana, 8 August - After the disastrous floods that hit Slovenia last week, the rivers are slowly receding, shows the report by the Environment Agency (ARSO). The river stage is decreasing everywhere in the country and will continue to do so in the coming days, hydrologists say.
Čresnovci, Dolnja Bistrica
Flooded area near the Mura river.
Photo: Defence Ministry
The flow rate of the Drava river is decreasing, and the rivers Ljubljanica and Krka are spilling over their banks only in areas that are flooded annually. The Krka will return to its banks on Wednesday.
The Mura river is returning to its banks upstream, and there is fewer and fewer flooded areas in the mid- and downstream.
Some basements are still flooded. "This is normal when the Mura is receding. It does not mean that people are in danger but the damage will be huge," said Martin Smodiš, head of the Prekmurje branch of the Civil Protection and Disaster Relief Administration.
The Upper Savinja and Koroška regions in the north of the country were hit the hardest, the Civil Protection and Disaster Relief Administration reports. Many roads remain closed amid ongoing flood recovery efforts.
On Monday more than 500 firefighter units were active on more than 500 sites there, along with mountain rescue services, rescue dogs and other protection, rescue and first aid units.
Some 100 employees of the Civil Protection and Disaster Relief Administration, 169 members of the civil protection service and some 300 members of the Slovenian Armed Forces and the police were also on the ground.
All available protection, rescue and assistance units from the affected areas were active, mostly in pumping water out of flooded buildings, ensuring access to cut-off areas, removing fallen trees and providing supplies.
What currently poses the greatest risk in worst-hit areas is landslides, particularly in northwestern region Gorenjska, Koroška, and Savinja Valley, north-east of the capital, where some households are still without electricity.